HB 1415-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3143
07/06
HOUSE BILL 1415-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Devoid, Merr. 1; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes a special veterans license plate and establishes a fund and administrative programs from the proceeds of the sale of such plates.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3143
07/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Motor Vehicles; Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Conservation Number Plate Fund. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 261:97-b, I to read as follows:
I. There is hereby established a conservation number plate fund under the administration of the commissioner of safety. The fund shall be used for the promotion, protection, and investment in the state's natural, cultural, and historic resources. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated. The commissioner of safety shall distribute the funds annually on August 1, except as provided in paragraph I-a, as follows: $5,000 of every $100,000 received, up to a total of $50,000, shall be distributed to the department of transportation for the expanded wild flower establishment program for use in planting lilacs and native wild flowers; $1 for every new, renewal, and transfer of registration, up to a total of $50,000, shall be placed in a nonlapsing account for use by the department of natural and cultural resources to promote the conservation number plate program; the remainder shall be distributed as follows:
2 Motor Vehicles; Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Use of Funds. Amend RSA 261:97-c, VII to read as follows:
VII. Any funds transferred from the conservation number plate fund which remain unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated.
3 New Subdivision; Special Veteran Number Plates and Special Veteran Number Plate Fund. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 97-f the following new subdivision:
Special Veteran Number Plates and Special Veteran Number Plate Fund
261:97-g Special Veteran Number Plates.
I. The director is hereby authorized to issue special New Hampshire first for veterans number plates, in lieu of other number plates. The design of these special plates shall be determined as provided in RSA 261:97-k. The plates shall retain the "live free or die" logo. Such plates shall be issued only upon application and upon payment of a $60 fee that shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee and any other number plate fees otherwise required.
II. The commissioner is also authorized to issue vanity New Hampshire first for veterans number plates. The fee for any such vanity New Hampshire first for veterans number plate shall be the fee as provided in paragraph I, in addition to the fees for vanity plates which are otherwise established by law. The vanity plate portion of the fee shall be distributed as provided in RSA 261:89 and RSA 263:52.
III. Plates shall be renewed on an annual basis for $30 per set. Of this sum, the department shall retain an amount as is necessary to recover production and administrative costs as approved by the fiscal committee of the general court. The remaining funds shall be paid to the state treasurer and distributed as provided in RSA 261:97-h. The cost of replacement number plates shall be identical to the cost of initial number plates and the revenue from replacement number plates shall be distributed in the same manner as revenue derived from initial number plates.
IV. The commissioner of the department of safety, with the approval of the governor and executive council, shall have the authority to enter into contractual arrangements for the commercial use of the New Hampshire first for veterans plate design. Any royalties derived from such contracts shall be deposited into the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund in RSA 261:97-h.
261:97-h New Hampshire First for Veterans Number Plate Fund.
I. There is hereby established a New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund under the administration of the commissioner of safety. The fund shall be used to promote the general welfare of the state's veterans, service members and their families by providing quality services. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated. The commissioner of safety shall distribute the funds annually on August 1 as follows: $1 for every new, renewal, and transfer of registration, up to a total of $50,000, shall be placed in a nonlapsing account for use by the department of military affairs and veteran services to promote the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate program; the remainder shall be provided to the New Hampshire first for veterans fund and distributed based on designated programs and initiatives prioritized by the governor and the state veterans council in order to promote the well being of veterans, service members, and their families.
II. Each department and commission receiving funding from the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund shall establish a line item in their budget. Moneys received from the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund shall be in addition to any other sums appropriated and shall not replace base funding received by any of these departments or commissions through the budget process.
261:97-i Use of Funds. The moneys in the fund shall be distributed as provided in RSA 261:97-h. The proceeds shall be used as follows:
I. The funds transferred to the department of military affairs and veteran services shall be used to promote the general welfare of the state’s veterans, service members, and their families by providing quality services for:
(a) Attracting and retaining veterans to the state, including transitioning service members to relocate to the state through raising awareness of the state’s veteran-friendly advocacy, policies, and laws, making veteran employment support available, improving focus on veteran well-being, creating strategic messaging and transition assistance programs, and reinforcing critical veteran, service member, and family programs and initiatives.
(b) Military skills transfer, licensing, training, and certification programs, including collaboration programs with the office of professional licensure and certification.
(c) Rewarding and gainful employment through collaborations with New Hampshire veteran-friendly businesses, organizations, colleges, and schools that honor, fortify, empower, and positively impact the lives of veterans, service members, and their families.
(d) Promoting the well being and mental and physical health of veterans, including:
(1) Taking actions contributing to an increased enrollment of veterans with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Participating in the ask the question campaign .
(3) Participating in the veterans' freedom to smile initiative.
(4) Participating in regional and statewide veteran suicide prevention coalitions.
(e) Programs and initiatives that contribute to ending veteran homelessness in New Hampshire.
(f) Raising awareness of the GI Bill's educational benefits.
(g) Participating in programs and initiatives supporting justice-involved veterans.
(h) Participating in programs and initiatives that support the development of a better understanding of the implications and create solutions for an aging veteran demographic in New Hampshire.
II. Funds transferred to employment security shall be used to support transitioning service members, veterans, and their spouses find meaningful employment.
III. Funds transferred to the department of administrative services shall be used to support friendly programs and initiatives across state agencies that benefit veterans, their spouses, and transitioning service members.
IV. Funds transferred to the department of business and economic affairs shall be used in support of attracting and retaining veterans to New Hampshire.
V. Funds transferred to the department of safety shall be used for administering the New Hampshire first for veterans program.
VI. Funds transferred from the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund which remain unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated.
VII. All proceeds from the sale of plates by an agency authorized to receive proceeds from the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate fund may be retained by such agency.
VIII. Agencies receiving funds pursuant to this subdivision shall mount signs at funded project sites indicating that the project was funded by the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate program. This requirement may be waived in the case of environmentally sensitive projects where signage could be detrimental to the success of the project.
261:97-j Plate Use. ?Plates issued under this subdivision may be used on passenger motor vehicles and recreation vehicles.
261:97-k New Hampshire First for Veterans Number Plate Advisory Commission.
I. There is established a New Hampshire first for veterans number plate advisory commission to attract and retain veterans in New Hampshire and perform other tangential duties.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, II, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of military affairs and veteran services, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of employment security, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Determine plate designs, with final approval of a design being approved by the commissioner of the department of military affairs and veteran services. The commissioner of the department of safety shall establish a numbering system and method of distribution.
(b) Register plate designs with the secretary of state.
(c) Implement and monitor programs created or funded pursuant to this subdivision, prepare an annual evaluation of projects accomplished during the preceding year, and create an assessment, prior to implementation, of projects proposed for the coming year to ensure that they are created and implemented in accordance with this subdivision.
(d) Oversee signage of projects funded pursuant to this subdivision.
V. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The committee chairperson shall appoint a secretary from the New Hampshire department of military and veterans affairs to keep a detailed record of all commission proceedings. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The commission shall meet at least once annually. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1.
261:97-l Agency Reports.
I. The department of military affairs and veteran services, employment security, the department of business and economic affairs, and the department of safety shall submit an annual report to the New Hampshire first for veterans number plate advisory commission on or before October 1. The commission chairperson shall compile the reports as a unified report and submit the unified report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 31.
II. The unified report shall contain the following:
(a) A report from the department of safety indicating:
(1) The total number of New Hampshire first for veterans number plates sold during the preceding year, including the number of initial plates and the number of renewals.
(2) The gross revenue derived from the sale of plates.
(3) The amount retained by the department of safety to cover its administrative costs of administering programs under this subdivision.
(4) The amount paid to the state treasurer for deposit into the New Hampshire First for veterans number plate fund during the preceding fiscal year.
(b) A report from the other 3 agencies receiving proceeds pursuant to this subdivision indicating:
(1) The amount of proceeds received pursuant to this subdivision;
(2) The total amount of funds expended;
(3) Any accomplishments achieved as a result of this subdivision during the preceding fiscal year.
(4) An outline of the projects and programs to be conducted in the ensuing fiscal year with proceeds from this subdivision.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-3143
11/25/25
HB 1415-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | NH First for Veterans Number Plate Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $45,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill creates a new special “New Hampshire First for Veterans” license plate and establishes a new dedicated New Hampshire First for Veterans Number Plate Fund. The plates will cost $60 initially and $30 for annual renewal, with proceeds, after recovering production and administrative costs, transferred to the new fund. The Department of Safety estimates a one-time system upgrade cost of $45,000 to establish this plate type. Neither the Department of Safety nor the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services has provided assumptions or estimates as to the potential interest in such a plate type, therefore this bill’s impact on revenue to the new dedicated fund or when the Department of Safety may fully recover initial administration costs ($45,000) is indeterminable. Neither Department has identified any ongoing costs relative to administration of the new plate type or dedicated fund.
This bill also makes the existing conservation number plate fund, under RSA 261:97-b, “continually appropriated”.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety and Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
Feb. 5, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234
Jan. 29, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 234
Jan. 21, 2026: ==ROOM CHANGE== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 01:00 pm GP 234
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation